Police: Cabbie not cited for hitting pedestrian on Taunton street

Thursday

Police said the Checker Cab driver who early Tuesday night struck and injured a woman trying to walk across Washington Street did so accidentally and will not be cited.

Police said the Checker Cab driver who early Tuesday night struck and injured a woman trying to walk across Washington Street did so accidentally and will not be cited.

Two other drivers told police that the cabbie, 31-year-old Joseph Calitri of 4 Silver St., was not speeding when he hit Katherine Pearce, 60, who police say is homeless.

Pearce was knocked down in the west-bound, left-hand lane of the busily traveled four-lane street. She was taken to Morton Hospital and Medical Center, where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Both witnesses said that Pearce was making her way across the street toward the Dunkin’ Donuts when she stopped and momentarily stood on the double yellow lines.

She reportedly then took a step backward into the path of the taxi and was struck, going up onto its hood before landing on the pavement. Police also said that there was no pedestrian crosswalk at the point where she crossed the street and she was not at an intersection.

One witness told cops Pearce appeared to have trouble walking before the crash, and that he suspected she may suffer from a skeletal or muscular disorder — an observation made by other eyewitnesses Tuesday night immediately after the accident.

Police said that Calitri was not speeding. They also said that Pearce, who was unable to speak to them at the hospital, smelled of alcohol.

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